Taping machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for applying a masking tape in lines exactly matching the edges of moulding and trim strips incorporating a pair of accurately aligned resilient applicator rollers with serrated metal guide discs on the sides thereof, the rollers accepting from supply rolls the tape alone or combined with paper.

O United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,900,362

Schaffer Aug. 19, 1975 1 TAPING MACHINE 3,l20 46l 2/l964 Harbour 156/5543.156.603 11 1964 R i 1. [76) Inventor: Edward W. Schafier, 1690 Walnut3 3K) 452 3;)67 zz z [56/577 yet a1." 156/577 wmterpark Fla 327393.463.694 8/1969 DeRoshia 156/577 3,537,942 11/1970 Kefalos 156/577 [22]1974 3.567557 3/1971 Kingery e161. 156/577 [21] Appl. No.: 524,513

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Data 698,469 11/1964 Canada 156/506 [63]Continuation of Ser. No. 332,066, Feb 13, 1973,

abandoned Primary Examiner-Clifton B. Cosby 52 us. (:1. 156/577;156/493; 156/505; jffj' i i jglflig fig h 156/574; 156/579 g u [51] Int.Cl. 844C 7/04; C09,] 7/02 [58] Field of Search 156/60, 71, 230, 475,485, [57] ABSTRACT A machine for applying a masking tape in linesexactly 55 3 55 42 55 312 39 matching the edges of mouldmg and tnmstrips mcor porating a pair of accurately aligned resilient applica- 56R f d tor rollers with serrated metal guide discs on the sides l l eerences thereof, the rollers accepting from supply rolls the UNITEDSTATES PATENTS tape alone or combined with paper.

1,739,296 12/1929 Dupont 1. 156/577 2,493,737 1/1950 Burns 156/577 10Clalms, 9 Drawmg Flgul'es TAPING MACHINE This is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 332.066, filed Feb. l3. I973. now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art today professional paintersestimate that they spend more time masking the various mouldings andtrim strips on cars and around windows, floors, and doors than they dopainting. This is true because the masking tape must be applied by handto insure accurate straight edges. The prior art technique generallyinvolves ripping off a strip of tape of convenient length and applyingit by hand along the trim strip to mask an even straight line. The tapemust then be smoothed and pressed into place by hand. It would be muchmore desirable to have a machine to do this task if the machine couldapply the tape more quickly but just as accurately as by hand. Myinvention achieves this objective.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly. my invention contemplates a devicehaving a flat metal plate which supports a spring loaded hub carrying aroll of tape. The tape feeds off of the hub and about two applicatorrollers which are constructed of a resilient material such as rubber. Ithas been found that a single roller does not adequately align the tapewith the trim strip and. thus. two resilient rubber rollers are providedboth of which are mounted on the metal plate in substantial alignmentwith the hub. The rollers are retained on both sides by serrated metaldiscs which contain the resilient rubber core and prevent distortioncaused by the pressure of the rollers against the tape. The serrateddiscs also guide the tape accurately along the exact edge of the trimstrips and mouldings and further advantagously provide traction toensure that the rollers rotate smoothly on the trim strip so that thetape is not ripped or distorted during the application process.Furthermore. these serrated traction discs have the additional advantageof ensuring that the application rollers follow a true and straightcourse along the trim strip.

In a second embodiment of my invention the metal plate additionallycarries a roll of paper which feeds onto the edge of the tape as thetape passes over the first applicator roller. The tape secures the edgeof the paper to the trim strip. The paper effectively increases thewidth of the masking tape to prevent paint over spray from reaching thefloor or other adjacent surfaces. To accomodate the full width of thepaper the first applicator roller is made substantially wider than thetrailing applicator roller.

With these two embodiments it may be seen that it is an object of myinvention to provide a taping machine which automatically appliesmasking tape in a true and straight line along both straight and curvedmoulding strips and ensures that it is firmly pressed into place alongthe entire length of the trim or moulding strip. It is a further objectof my invention to provide a taping machine which rolls smoothly andevenly along trim strips due to the action of the traction discs on theapplicator rollers. Further objects and advantages will become apparentupon consideration of the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. I. 2 and 3 comprise.respectively. front. side and back views of the first embodiment of thetaping machine of my invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the relative positions of thevarious rollers and how the tape passes thereover to the trim strip.

FIG. 5 shows how the machine is utilized to apply masking tape to thetrim strip.

FIG. 6 is a detail view showing part of a traction disc and theserrations about the edge thereof.

FIG. 7 is a perspective detail view of a housing suitable to enclose themachine shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of my inventionwherein paper is applied along with the masking tape.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the machine of FIG. 8 to better show therelative position and sizes of the compo nents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring simultaneously toFIGS. 1, 2 and 3 it may be seen that the first embodiment of myinvention utilizes a thin metal backing plate 10 upon which is mounted apair of resilient applicator rollers I2 and I4. Rollers I2 and 14 maycomprise rubber or any suitable flexible resilient material mountedabout suitable bolts 30 which pass through metal backing plate I0. A hubI6 is slidably mounted on backing plate 10 by means of a bolt 20 whichextends through a slot 26 in backing plate 10 to be retained therein bymeans of a washer 22 and a nut 24. Hub 16 carries a roll of tape 18about its outer circumference and is urged downwards toward applicatorrollers 12 and 14 by means ofa spring 25 extending between bolt 20 and asuitable anchoring tab 27. In the drawing the spring is shown onlyschematically and somewhat offset to make slot 26 clearly visible. Itshould be understood. however. that any suitable springing arrangementwhich urges the hub 16 downwards toward applicator rollers 12 and 14would be suitable.

Mounted against the sides of applicator rolls I2 and 14 are serratedmetal discs 34 which are retained tightly on both sides of the rubbercores of the rollers. The metal discs 34 are referred to herein astraction discs since they have serrated edges which help the ma chine toaccurately follow a straight line along the trim strip on which themasking tape is being applied. In FIG. 6 a portion of the disc is shownin somewhat enlarged scale. The edge of the disc has a number of teethformed thereon which serve to engage the trim strip and ensure that therollers 12 and I4 roll smoothly along the trim strip without anyslippage. Traction discs 34 also ensure that the edges of the resilientrubber rollers I2 and I4 do not distort under applied pressure. Discs 34are made slightly larger than rollers I2 and 14 to align the edge of thetape with the roller edge.

In FIG. 5 it may be seen that the machine is utilized by rolling it atan angle along the top ofa trim strip 44. In the sectional view of FIG.5 trim strip 44 comprises a base board mounted against a wall 40 on topof a floor 42. A moulding strip 46 is also shown since this is typicalof construction practice used in modern buildings. It should beunderstood. however. that the taping machine is equally suitable formasking the trim about doors and windows or any other surface requiringmasking tape to be applied in straight even lines. As can be seen inFIG. 5 the applicator rollers 12 and I4 are held directly against theedge of the trim strip 44. The traction discs 34 fit tightly into thecorner indicated by the numeral 37 in FIG. 5. The resilient cores of theapplicator rollers press the tape in a smooth straight line exactlyalong the top edge of the trim strip. Referring to PK). 4, it can beseen that tape 49 rolls off the outside of the tape roll 18 and over thefront edge of the leading applicator roller at point 48. The strip oftape 49 is then pressed down onto the top of trim strip 44 passingunderneath the second applicator roller 12. The tape roll 18 decreasesin diameter as the tape is used up, consequently, spring 25 slides hub16 downward so the tape is always in contact with the top of rollers l2and 14. In this way the rolling action of the applicator rollers 12 and14 assists in turning the tape roll 18 and helping with the discharge oftape therefrom. A straight application line is ensured by the use of twoapplicator rollers 12 and 14 both having traction discs following theexact edge of the trim strip 44.

In FIG. 1 it may be seen that backing plate has a generally circular topedge 11. This top edge 11 is used to retain a suitable housing toenclose the entire machine which housing has not been shown in FIGS. 1through 5 for the purposes of increased clarity. The housing 50 is shownin FIG. 7 and may comprise, for example, a molded plastic housing havinga cylindrical wall 52 terminated at one end by a flat member 54. At theother end of the housing 50 is provided a semicircular ridge 56 whichfollows the cylindrical wall 52. Ridge 56 is provided with two raisedlip portions 58 and 59 so as to form a groove 57 therebetween. Groove 57is sized to accept the edge 11 of backing plate 10. In this way housing50 fits down over the tape roll 16 providing a compact package and aconvenient handle for holding the machine. The ridge 56 extends around asemicircular path slightly over 180 degrees in extent so that whenhousing 50 is snapped into place it is retained by wrapping around theslight recurve shown at points 13 in FIG. 1.

The second embodiment of my invention is shown in FIG. 8 and 9. Thisembodiment works in a fashion similar to that described with respect tothe first embodiment except that a roll of paper is included which paperis applied at the same time as the tape so as to provide additionalmasking protection. In the second embodiment a metal backing plate 60carries two applicator rollers 64 and 66 as before and also a roll oftape 68. In addition, a roll of paper 62 is carried upon a shaft whichis secured through an arcuate shaped slot 70. The paper roll 62 isspaced out from the backing plate 60 by an amount sufficient so thatwhen tape is discharged from roll 68 and travels under paper roll 62 andabout applicator roll 64, about half of the sticky side of the tape 75is exposed for application to the trim strip 77 while the other half ofthe tape 75 contacts the edge of the paper 76. As can be seen in FIG. 8,the paper 76 is secured by means of tape 75 in a straight line along thetop of trim strip 77. To accomodate the width of the paper 76 and thetape 75 applicator roller 64 is made substantially wider. To supportthis wider applicator roller a shaft extends out from backing plate 60to a radius rod 74 pivoted about a handle 72. Handle 72 extends out frominside paper roll 62, makes a right angle turn downward, and passes backthrough a hole in radius rod 74 to the inside of the second applicatorroller 66. It is contemplated in the present invention that both paperroll 62 and trailing applicator roller 66 may be mounted to backingplate 60 by means of bolts in the same fashion as described with respectto the first embodiment. Handle 72 is made slightly larger in diameterand designed to slide over these mounting bolts in paper roller 62 andtrailing applicator roller 66. Another handle is provided by forming ahole 81 in backing plate 60 and adding suitable hand grips 80. Thetaping machine may be grasped with two hands by means of handles 72 andand rolled along the trim strip in the same manner as described withrespect to the first embodiment.

I claim:

I. A taping machine for applying masking material for paintingcomprising in combination:

a support means:

first and second resilient rollers mounted on said support means aboutgenerally parallel rotational axes:

a rotatable hub mounted on said support means and adapted to carry aroll of tape in position to feed tape onto said first and secondresilient rollers.

2. The machine of claim 1 in which each of said resil ient rollerscomprise rubber rollers, held snuggly between a pair of traction discsof slightly larger diameter than said rubber rollers.

3. The machine of claim 2 in which said traction discs comprise metaldiscs with serrated edges.

4. The machine of claim 2 in which said support means comprises agenerally flat backing plate and said hub is slidably mounted on a shaftsecured through a slot in said backing plate and urged toward saidresilient rollers by a spring.

5. The machine of claim 4 in which said traction discs comprise metaldiscs with serrated edges.

6. The machine of claim 5 including a generally semicircular housingadapted to fit over said machine and having a groove therein to acceptthe edge of said backing plate.

7. The machine of claim 1 including a roll of paper mounted on saidsupport means in rolling contact with said first resilient roller and inwhich said hub is positioned to feed tape onto the edge of said paper asthe tape and paper pass around said first resilient roller.

8. The machine of claim 7 in which said roll of paper is mounted on ashaft secured through a slot in said sup port means.

9. The machine of claim 8 including a handle extending out from theshaft on which the roll of paper is mounted and back onto the shaftsupporting the second resilient roller.

10. The machine of claim 9 including an additional support memberextending between said handle and the shaft supporting the firstresilient roller.

* k a: =k

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Page 1 CERTIFICATE OF CURRECTION Patent No.5,900,362 Date August '19, I975 Inventor(s) Edward W. Schaffer It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column LP, cancel all claims and insert the corrected claims 1 through9, as shown on the attached sheet.

Signal and Scalcd this sixteenth Day Of December 1 9 75 [SEAL] A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner uflatenlsand Trademarks atent No. 5,900, 562 g 2 1 A taping machine for applyingmasking tape to surfaces, trims, and moldings prior to' paintingcomprising in combination:

Q a support providing a frame and handle;

first and second generally cylindrical resilient rollers formed from asolid piece of flexible rubber like material mounted for rotation onaxles, said axles carried on said frame and extending from one side ofsaid frame in generally parallel positions to provide parallelrotational axes, each of said resilient rollers held between a pair ofthin retaining discs of slightly larger diameter than said rollers, saiddiscs having holes in the center of a size just sufficient to accept theaxles therethrough with retaining means on the axles next to the discsso as to hold said discs snuggly against the sides of the rollers so asto hold the rollers in approximate proper shape under applied pressure.but still allowing the rollers to flex sideways,

said discs mounted for independent and free rotation on said axles; and

a rotatable hub means mounted on said frame and adapted for carrying aroll of tape on the same side of said frame as said axles with its axisparallel to said axles and in position to feed tape onto said first andsecond resilient rollers. 4

2 3 machine of Claim 1 in which said retaining discs comprise metaldiscs with serrated edges.

P e 5 Patent No. 5,900,562 8;

3- The machine of Claim 1 in which said frame comprises a generally flatbacking plate and said hub is slidaoly mounted on a shaft securedthrough a slot in said backing plate and urged toward said resilientrollers by a spring.

4. The machine of Claim 3 in which said retaining discs comprise metaldiscs with serrated edges to provide greater traction.

v 5. The machine of Claim 4 including a generally semicircular housingadapted to fit over said machine and having a groove therein to acceptthe edge of said backing plate.

6. The machine of Claim 1 including a roll of paper mounted on saidsupport means in rolling contact with said first resilient roller and inwhich said hub is positioned to feed tape onto the edge of said paper asthe tape and paper pass around said first resilient roller.

7. The machine of claim 6 in which said roll of paper is mounted on ashaft secured through a slot in said frame.

8. The machine of claim including a handle extending out from the shafton which the roll of paper is mounted and back onto the shaft supportingthe second resilient roll er.

9. The machine of claim 8 including an additional support memberextending between said handle and the shaft supporting the firstresilient r ller.

1. A TAPING MACHINE FOR APPLYING MASKING MATERIAL FOR PAINTINGCOMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A SUPPORT MEANS: FIRST AND SECOND RESILIENTROLLERS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS ABOUT GENERALLY PARALLELROTATIONAL AXES: A ROTATABLE HUB MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS ANDADAPTED TO CARRY A ROLL OF TAPE IN POSITION TO FEED TAPE ONTO SAID FIRSTAND SECOND RESILIENT ROLLERS.
 2. The machine of claim 1 in which each ofsaid resilient rollers comprise rubber rollers, held snuggly between apair of traction discs of slightly larger diameter than said rubberrollers.
 3. The machine of claim 2 in which said traction discs comprisemetal discs with serrated edges.
 4. The machine of claim 2 in which saidsupport means comprises a generally flat backing plate and said hub isslidably mounted on a shaft secured through a slot in said backing plateand urged toward said resilient rollers by a spring.
 5. The machine ofclaim 4 in which said traction discs comprise metal discs with serratededges.
 6. The machine of claim 5 including a generally semicircularhousing adapted to fit over said machine and having a groove therein toaccept the edge of said backing plate.
 7. The machine of claim 1including a roll of paper mounted on said support means in rollingcontact with said first resilient roller and in which said hub ispositioned to feed tape onto the edge of said paper as the tape andpaper pass around said first resilient roller.
 8. The machine of claim 7in which said roll of paper is mounted on a shaft secured through a slotin said support means.
 9. The machine of claim 8 including a handleextending out from the shaft on which the roll of paper is mounted andback onto the shaft supporting the second resilient roller.
 10. Themachine of claim 9 including an additional support member extendingbetween said handle and the shaft supporting the first resilient roller.